Dispenser for disposable paper bibs on a roll

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for paper products is formed on a paper roll comprising a body defined by a substantially C-shape terminating at two ends. Each of the ends forms an anchor that suspendingly receiving a paper roll therebetween for free rotation. The body including at least one aperture formed therein for permitting insertion of a fastener therethrough for attachment of said dispenser to an object

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claim benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No.60/528,753 filed on Dec. 12, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a dispenser for paperproducts discharged or retrieved from a housing and, more particularly,to a dispenser for disposable children's bibs discharged or retrievedfrom a housing such as a paper roll or an enclosed housing that permitsthe paper roll to freely rotate therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Disposable bibs are commonly known in the art, and are provided in avariety of configurations, including on a cylindrical paper roll(similar in appearance to a paper towel or toilet tissue roll) or withina housing that permits the free rotation of the paper roll therein. Assuch, a dispenser for holding a disposable paper product roll isdesirable, including a dispenser for disposable bibs. The dispenserprovides means for neatly maintaining a well-ordered area about thedispenser, wherein an arm depending from a head of the dispenser isinwardly biased against the paper product of the paper roll, therebypreventing excessive sheets of the product from chaotically litteringthe area and further providing leverage against the roll for separatinga desired sheet(s) from the roll.

Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and methodof dispensing disposable paper bib.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved dispenser for paper products.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved adispenser for disposable children's bibs discharged or retrieved from ahousing such as a paper roll or an enclosed housing that permits thepaper roll to freely rotate therein.

Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention,a dispenser for paper products formed on a paper roll comprising a bodydefined by a substantially C-shape terminating at two ends. Each of theends forms an anchor that suspendingly receiving a paper rolltherebetween for free rotation. The body including at least one apertureformed therein for permitting insertion of a fastener therethrough forattachment of said dispenser to an object

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following more detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichlike elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser for disposable paperproducts;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser affixed to an upstandingobject, such as a changing table or a wall;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thedispenser, wherein an inwardly biased arm with a restraint or anchor isprovided;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of thedispenser, wherein a hook or member is affixed to the rear of thedispenser to permit gravitational impingement to an object, such as achair or rail;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dispenser,wherein the embodiment includes the combination of the arm and restraintor anchor of FIG. 3 and the hook or member of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 is affixed toa chair, such as a children's high chair.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms ofits preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.

Referring now to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a dispenser for disposable paperproduct rolls (hereinafter “dispenser”) 10 is shown in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 10 comprises asubstantially elongated C-shaped body 12 terminating at two ends 14 and16, the ends comprising a restraint or anchor 14 and 16. Along alinearly elongated portion of the body 12, at least one aperture 18 (anddepicted as two apertures 18) is/are provided for insertion of fastenerstherethrough to affix the dispenser to an object, such as a wall ortable 50 (as shown in FIG. 2). A cylindrically tubular paper roll 20(and disposable paper product 22) is inserted between ends andrestraints or anchors 14 and 16, permitting the roll 20 to freely rotatethereabout and dispense the paper product.

The body 12 is envisioned as having a sufficient size to suspend a roll20 between restraints or anchors 14 and 16, while permitting the roll 20to freely rotate thereabout. In one embodiment, it is envisioned thatthe body 12 comprises a linear height or length of approximatelyfourteen (14) inches as measured from a superior apex A1 to an inferiorapex A2, although the linear height or length may vary in a rangeapproximate to fourteen (14) inches without departing from the scope ofthe invention. The body 12 is further envisioned as having a linearwidth of approximately four (4) inches to provide the structuralintegrity and rigidity to ensure proper operation of the dispenser 10,although the linear width may vary in a range approximate to four (4)inches without departing from the scope of the invention. It is furtherenvisioned that the body 12 is fabricated from a deformable, yetreturnably resilient material, such as plastic, rubber or metalrestraints or anchors 14 and 16 provides the advantage of maintaining awell-ordered and clean area about the dispenser 10, and discouragesunnecessary excessive usage of the paper product 22. The restraints oranchors 14 and 16 may operate to provide leverage against the roll 20and paper product 22 to facilitate separation of a desired sheet of thepaper product 22 from the remaining paper product 22 quantity of roll20. The restraint or anchor 16 and 18 are envisioned as having a varietyof geometric configurations and comprising a variety of materials,including plastic, rubber and other similar materials. In the embodimentdepicted in the FIGS. 1-6, the restraints or anchors 14 and 16 comprisea plastic or rubber surface. By providing a plastic, rubber or otherwisetextured surface, the restraint or anchor 14 and 16 further facilitatethe leverage provided against roll 20 and paper product 22. The plastic,rubber or textured surface must be sufficiently deformable or minimallyobstructive to the rotation of the roll 22 and paper product 24 so thatthe dispenser 10 operates to dispense the paper product 22 with minimaleffort while maintaining the well-ordered area desired.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the dispenser 10 isdepicted, wherein an arm 24 depends from one of the restraints oranchors 14 or 16. The arm 24 includes a restraint or anchor 26 at aterminal end opposite an end affixed to the restraints or anchors 14 or16. The arm 24 is inwardly biased toward the roll 20 so that when a roll20 and paper product 22 combination are affixed between restraints oranchors 14 and 16, the arm 24 gently bears or presses the restraint oranchor 14 and 16 against the paper product 22, thereby preventing thepaper product 22 from unintentionally rotating off of the roll 20.Therefore, the arm 24 and restraints or anchors 14 and 16 provide theadvantage of maintaining a well-ordered and clean area about thedispenser 10, and discourages unnecessary excessive usage of the paperproduct 22. Furthermore, the arm 24 and restraints or anchors 14 and 16may operate to provide leverage against the roll 20 and paper product 22to facilitate separation of a desired sheet of the paper product 22 fromthe remaining paper product 22 quantity of roll 20. As was the case withrestraints or anchors 14 and 16, the restraint or anchor 26 comprise aplastic or rubber surface.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another alternate embodiment of the dispenser10 is depicted, wherein a hook or member 28 is affixed to a rear portionof body 12. The hook or member 28 includes a C or U-shape that permitsthe dispenser 10 to be gravitationally impinged to an object, such as achair, a table, a rail or other similar object. It is envisioned thatthe hook or member 28 is fabricated from the same durable material asthe body 12 of dispenser 10. It is also envisioned that hook or member28 is sufficiently strong to properly hold the dispenser 10 in anoperational arrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another alternate embodiment of the dispenser10 is depicted, wherein the arm 24 and restraint or anchor 26 of FIG. 3and the hook or member 28 of FIG. 4 are incorporated into a singleembodiment. The features and advantages disclosed and described inreference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, respectively, are hereby incorporated byreference as if fully rewritten. The combination of the arm 24 andrestraint or anchor 26 and the hook or member 28 permit the dispenser 10to be gravitationally impinged from an object, while applying theleverage to the roll 20 via arm 24 as desired. FIG. 6 discloses theembodiment of FIG. 5 affixed to a children's high chair 100. Thedispenser 10 is affixed so that the hook or member 28 is gravitationallyimpinged on the back of the chair 100, the dispenser 10 facing away fromthe rear of the chair 100. Other arrangements are envisioned withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It is further envisioned that the alternate embodiments depicted in FIG.3 through FIG. 6 may include the apertures 18 for further securing thedispenser 10 to an object via fasteners inserted therethrough.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application,to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scopeof the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited onlyby the following claims.

1. A dispenser for paper products formed on a paper roll comprising abody defined by a substantially C-shape terminating at two ends, whereineach of said ends comprise an anchor, said ends suspendingly receivingsaid paper roll therebetween for free rotation of said paper roll, saidbody including at least one aperture formed therein for permittinginsertion of a fastener therethrough for attachment of said dispenser toan object.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an armterminating at a third anchor, said arm inwardly biased toward saidpaper roll suspended between said ends, said arm gently pressing againstsaid paper roll so as to prevent excess sheets of said paper productfrom unrolling from said paper roll, said arm further providing leverageagainst said paper roll to facilitate separation of one of said sheetsfrom said paper roll.
 3. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising amember affixed to a rear portion of said body, said member forgravitationally impinging said dispenser to an object.
 4. The dispenserof claim 1, further comprising: an arm terminating at a third anchor,said arm inwardly biased toward said paper roll suspended between saidends, said arm gently pressing against said paper roll so as to preventexcess sheets of said paper product from unrolling from said paper roll,said arm further providing leverage against said paper roll tofacilitate separation of one of said sheets from said paper roll; and amember affixed to a rear portion of said body, said member forgravitationally impinging said dispenser to an object.